Barbara Bush and her husband Craig Coyne have taken their newborn daughter Cora Georgia home from the hospital following the infant’s nearly three-week stay in the neonatal intensive care unit.
The couple welcomed their first child on September 27, at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, Maine, near the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport.
Barbara, 39, had planned on giving birth in New York, but baby Cora surprised them by arriving six weeks ahead of her due date.
The new mom visited the hospital daily with her husband before they were spotted bringing their bundle of joy home on Friday, with Cora sound asleep in her carrier as they loaded her into their car.
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Major milestone! Barbara Bush and her husband Craig Coyne took their newborn daughter Cora Georgia home from the hospital on Friday, nearly three weeks after she was born
Heading home: The couple was seen leaving Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, Maine, which is near the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport
Premature: Barbara, 39, had planned on giving birth in New York, but baby Cora surprised them by arriving six weeks ahead of her due date. She spent over two weeks in the NICU
Barbara was dressed in a loose-fitting button-up shirt tucked into skinny jeans and classic black loafers. She wore her long dark hair loose around her shoulders and carried a bag over her left shoulder.
In her hands, she had her cellphone, a coffee cup, and a mask, which she had likely just removed after leaving the hospital. Craig, 40, had his mask pulled down under his chin as he walked alongside Barbara, holding onto their baby girl’s carrier with one hand.
The new dad sported a blue sweater and jeans, topping off his look with a baseball cap and sneakers. In addition to holding onto Cora, he had a backpack on his shoulders.
Cora was bundled up in a knit cap and cozy pink onesie for her first time leaving the hospital, and she slept soundly as they made their way to their vehicle.
The couple was accompanied by a nurse, who appeared to help them with their car seat before they put the baby in the backseat.
Barbara pulled her hair back out of the way as they huddled around Cora’s carrier, which was placed on the ground near the car as they did their final checks.
Outfit of the day: The new mom was dressed in a loose-fitting button-up shirt tucked into skinny jeans and classic black loafers
Balancing act: The new mom held her cellphone, coffee, and face mask while Craig walked behind her with Cora in her carrier
Teamwork: The couple was accompanied by a nurse as they walked to their car in the hospital parking lot
Missing out: Baby Cora was fast asleep in her carrier when she left the hospital on Friday
The first-time mom protectively watched as her husband placed Cora in the back of their car before they drove off.
Barbara and Craig have been staying at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport, which is about a 45-minute drive south of Portland.
On most mornings, Barbara would walk a few miles into town and grab a coffee at a local shop before spending the rest of the day at the hospital with Cora.
For her morning walks, she’d don leggings, a white baseball cap, and a cobalt blue puffy vest. If the weather was chillier, she’d throw on a sporty black puffy coat as well.
Cora’s early arrival prompted visits from Barbara’s twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager, and her parents, George W. and Laura Bush, who were seen at the compound earlier this month.
Getting ready: The nurse appeared to be helping the first-time parents with their car seat
On the go: Barbara pulled her hair back out of the way as they huddled around Cora’s carrier, which was placed on the ground near the car as they did their final checks
So precious: The newborn was wearing a cozy onesie and a knit cap to keep her warm
Checking it twice: Craig helped the nurse as they got the backseat ready for Cora
Heading out: The first-time mom stood behind her husband as he placed Cora in the backseat
Mommy’s here! Barbara stashed her cellphone in her back pocket as she leaned over to watch Craig belt in Cora before they drove off
The former president and first lady stayed with the new parents before their departure on October 3. Laura would sometimes join Barbara for a stroll. On the day she left Maine, she was seen walking with a friend as a Secret Service agent trailed behind them.
On Sunday, Barbara and Craig looked to be moving out of the main house. They were seen loading up a car with suitcases and other items before driving to another smaller home on the property, where they unloaded their bags.
The couple, who were seen at the hospital a few days later, were likely preparing for Cora’s arrival home. It’s unclear how long the family plans on staying in Maine with their newborn daughter.
Barbara is known for being a private person, but her twin Jenna shared updates about newborn Cora on the Today show, explaining in late September that the baby had come six weeks early and was in the NICU.
‘I flew as soon as I could and got to hold her, and it was just one of those life moments I’ll never forget,’ she told her co-stars Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie.
Prepping? Barbara and Craig have been staying at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport. On Sunday, they appeared to move out of the main house and into a smaller home on the property
Busy dad: On that same day, Craig, 40, was spotted having a coffee and making phone calls on the roof of the parking garage while visiting Cora at the hospital
Routine: On most mornings, Barbara would walk a few miles into town before spending the rest of the day at the hospital with Cora
The new aunt confirmed that Barbara was supposed to give birth in New York, which meant they didn’t have any baby supplies in Maine.
She said she had to do multiple Target runs to get diapers and other necessary items while helping set up a nursery in Maine.
Jenna has three children of her own — Mila, Poppy, and Hal — and she described how special it was to be able to experience motherhood with her sister for the first time.
‘I mean there was something almost evolutionary about it because as y’all both know, my sister, we are inseparable, we’ve done all these things together, and the one thing she hadn’t done yet was to have a baby, and so I got to meet that precious little girl yesterday,’ she said.
Jenna explained that her sister has always wanted children, and people would constantly ask her when she was going to have a baby.
Daily workouts: She’d often don leggings, a white baseball cap, and a cobalt blue puffy vest on her morning walks
Not your average local: Barbara wore earbuds and carried her cellphone in her hand as she enjoyed the scenery
Cup of Joe: On October 6, she was seen grabbing coffee at her favorite local spot in town
‘When we would write books and travel, people would always say to her, “When are you going to have kids?”‘ she said. ‘And it always kind of irritated me, like ask her about her work, there’s other things. But I know that it was something she had in her heart.’
Jenna found out she was pregnant with her third child, two-year-old Hal, just a few months after Barbara and Craig got married in October 2018, and she admitted she was a bit concerned about how her sister would take the news.
‘When I got pregnant with Hal there was some guilt a little bit, for both Barbara and then I knew [Hoda] wanted another baby, and my mom said, “Everybody gets their baby in their time.” And this is Barbara’s time.’
She also confirmed that Barbara and Craig gave Cora the middle name Georgia in honor of the baby’s maternal grandfather.
‘Yes. Henry was like, “Finally somebody named something after your dad,’ Jenna said. ‘It’s in honor of him, and I think that’s so sweet. We feel so lucky that he was ours, and I know Barbara wanted to pay tribute to him, so that is where that middle name comes from. It’s a big one.’
Bundled up: A few days before, Barbara threw on a black puffy jacket to keep warm in the morning chill
Mom on the go: Barbara once again grabbed a coffee before heading home and driving to the hospital, which is about 45 minutes north of Kennebunkport
Running errands: Barbara and Craig were seen at Portland City Hall on October 5
Pit stop: While it’s unclear why they were there, a sign outside stated birth certificates could be obtained at the office
Barbara and Jenna are named after their paternal and maternal grandmothers, respectively, and they have carried the tradition on with their own children.
Jenna’s oldest daughter Mila’s full name is Margaret Laura, a combination of her grandmothers’ names. Her second daughter was given the name Poppy as a tribute to the little girl’s great-grandfather, former President George H.W. Bush.
Meanwhile, her son Hal’s full name is Henry Harold Hager, and he goes by his middle name, which comes from his maternal great-grandfather Harold Welch.
Jenna wrote candidly about the ‘survivor’s guilt’ she felt over her surprise third pregnancy and the Bush family’s history of infertility in her book Everything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss.
She admitted that even her parents were worried about Barbara’s reaction when she learned she was pregnant with baby Hal, who was born in August 2019.
Seeing their baby girl: After their trip to Portland City Hall, they returned to the hospital around noon. They were seen leaving hours later
Caffeine kick: The new parents both carried coffee cups as they left the hospital around 5 p.m. on October 5
Comfy: Barbara was dressed in a black sweater and matching sweatpants that day
Dad on duty: Craig had on a sweat and jeans, an outfit that was nearly identical to the one he wore to take Cora home from the hospital more than week later
‘They were delighted, but the first thing my father said was, “Have you told Barbara?” I knew my father was worried that Barbara, newly married, would likely be trying soon for a baby if she wasn’t already,’ she wrote.
‘My parents went through so much in order to conceive us, so they are sensitive to the feelings of anyone who does not yet have the babies they want. They thought that if Barbara was trying, she might understandably envy my pregnancy.’
Jenna, who suffered an ectopic pregnancy before having her first child, explained that she and her husband weren’t even trying for another baby.
‘Henry and I had no plans to have more children. It wasn’t even physically likely, Infertility runs in my family, and it was not easy to conceive Poppy. Now I was three years older, two years into what’s termed — rather insultingly, I’ve always thought — advanced maternal age,’ she wrote in her book.
‘What’s more, Henry and I, like many parents of young children, struggle to find time to be … intimate. If we were to have another baby, it would have to be an immaculate conception.’
Family: Cora’s early arrival prompted visits from Barbara’s parents, George W. and Laura Bush. The former first lady was seen walking around the compound with a friend earlier this month
Protected: Laura and her pal were accompanied by a Secret Service agent on their walk
Leaving: Later that day, she and her husband left the compound, presumably to fly back to Texas
No special treatment: Former President George W. Bush was spotted rolling his own luggage to the car before they took off
Two years after welcoming her third child, Jenna now has the pleasure of being an aunt. She proudly shared the first photos of her newborn niece Cora with her parents on Instagram on September 28, just hours after the infant’s arrival was announced by her elated grandparents.
In one image, Barbara and Craig are seen tenderly cradling their daughter Cora in a hospital bed. Another shows Jenna sitting with her arm wrapped around Barbara as she holds her baby girl.
She also posted two photos of herself holding her niece while wearing a face mask.
Jenna appeared to have lightly muzzed Cora’s face with an editing tool in some of the photos in an apparent attempt to let her sister decide whether to display her newborn daughter’s face on social media.
In her caption, she expressed her joy at meeting her newborn niece, while revealing that the baby girl arrived early.
Party of three: Barbara and Craig welcomed Cora on September 27. Her twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager, flew to Maine the next day to help them with the baby
New aunt! Jenna shared updates about baby Cora on the Today show, explaining in late September that the baby had come six weeks early and was in the NICU
Protective: Jenna shared the first pictures of Barbara and Craig with Cora. She appears to have lightly blurred the face of the baby girl, perhaps in an attempt to maintain her privacy
Grandpa and grandma: Baby Cora is the fourth grandchild of former President George W. Bush, 75, and his wife Laura, 74
Announcement: The former president shared the news of his granddaughter’s birth via a press release that was issued on September 28, the day after Cora’s birth
‘Dearest Cora Georgia,’ she wrote. ‘Today is the day I got to meet my most beautiful, precious, feisty, niece (a bit earlier than I expected!).
‘I witnessed in awe as my dearest, toughest @barbara.p.bush became a mama. And today is the day I fell in love! Some cousins are anxiously waiting to play with you, but not just yet love. Xx auntie J.’
Baby Cora is the fourth grandchild of former President George W. Bush, 75, and his wife Laura, 74. The 43rd president and first lady announced the happy news in a press release, calling Cora ‘healthy and adorable.’
‘With full hearts, Laura and I are delighted to announce the birth of our new granddaughter,’ they wrote in a statement.
‘Barbara gave birth to Cora Georgia Coyne on September 27, 2021, in Maine — not far from our family home where Barbara and Craig were married.
‘Cora is healthy and adorable, and we are proud and grateful.’